The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has dismissed a recent New York Times report claiming that a screwdriver trader from Onitsha, Anambra State, was the source of U.S. intelligence on the alleged genocide of Christians in Nigeria. The rights group described the story as “unintelligent propaganda” and a distortion of reality.
HURIWA linked the report to a $9 million lobbying campaign by the Nigerian government, paid to U.S.-based DCI Group through Kaduna’s Aster Legal, intended to influence U.S. perceptions of Nigeria’s response to attacks on Christian communities.
The organization called the expenditure wasteful and poorly conceived, noting that credible local sources already provide accurate information on the killings.
The group emphasized that attacks on Christians, including the massacre of over 50 worshippers at Owo Catholic Church in Osun State, are well-documented by Nigerian media and verified by religious leaders, such as Bishop Wilfred Chikpa Anagbe of Makurdi, who have briefed U.S. congressional delegations.
HURIWA also clarified that Emeka Umeagbalasi, founder of Intersociety, is not the sole source of information on these atrocities, countering the report’s narrative. The organization described the New York Times story as a failed attempt to undermine credible civil society reporting and misrepresent the ongoing genocide.
“The Nigerian government’s attempt to distort the truth with paid propaganda has failed. The reality of the ongoing attacks on Christians is clear and undeniable,” said Comrade Emmanuel Nnadozie Onwubiko, HURIWA National Coordinator.
HURIWA Refutes New York Times Report, Slams $9 Million Nigerian Propaganda Effort
